Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1887-08-10
HOW MARY CAME.
A True Love Story of the Old
World and the New.

around the railroad depot at Prairie City,
Dakota, on July II. 1t was an anniversary
in the history Of the place and the people
were indulgfng in something Of celebra-
ton. Prairie City was one month old.
When the long mixed train, consisting OF
twenty-five or thirty freight cars and one
passenger coach behind them, came DELHI
erately in an hour behind time and steadily
losing, the crowd had arranged itself into
that attitude of easy grace peculiar to such
assemblages. The majority were armed
with large jack knives and busily engaged
in whiting pieces of pine split from the
corners OF the drygoods boxes scattered
about. Those not engaged in this occupa-
ton had their hands in their pockets and
appeared TO be deploring the fact that they
could not do that and white at the same
time. The July sun shonc down iiercely
and was reflected from the Imprinted sides
of the depot building with surprising in
tcnsity. There was light wind, but il was
dry and hot, and not the cool and refreshing
breeze that was supposed TO ian the cheek
OF the dweller in that region.
The locomotive stopped just beyond the
depot and took water. A brakeman got
down on the platform and gossiped with
the crowd, and the conductor went in and
held long, mysterious conference with the
station agent, as was his won't each day.
"Got s'more em'grants fer ye," said
Three-hngered Jim, the head brakeman.
"What be they" asked Paddy O'Shaugh-
messy.
"Norsks.n
III expict," returned Paddy, with undis-
guised scorn.
"You shouldn't speak so slightin'ly Of
'em," said Judge wilkins, they'll help de-
yalo,, tho countrv
"Develop nothin'l wy, they can't talk,
eau they, jimmy
"Naw. Green 'uns right from where
they. grow. Half dozen Norwcgians and
Finlander. Yes, and ! believe there's a
Denmarker, too" added Jim, meditatively
"Finlauder, hey!n demanded Paddy, and
he fairly groaned. They're the worst
kind there be. They don't niver know
nothin' at all. WY, seen 'em where they
bc's in this country years and they keeps
sayin' who whin they wants their oxen to
stop. Ye all knows it," he added, appeal
ing to the crowd.
II am not really particular how they in
duce their oxen TO stop If / can have the job
| OF locating them on some land" said Law
yer Barker.
30, yez thinks yez can make some money
! out of EN- returned Paddy, derisively
knows it," and he retired very much dis
| gusted with community that would not
| unanimously denouncc race guilty of such
| a heinous crime
While this conversation was taking place
| the enigrants had been coming from the
| car mp TO the depot-the length of the train
making IL no inconsiderable walk. There
were dozen of them, all in their native
| dress and looking as picturesque as when
| they embarked at Christiana or Helsing-
| fors. They all had the fair hair and com
| plexions and blue eyes OF the Scandinavian
| Most of the men were tall and we'll proper
| toned, though some of them were short
| and thck--thcrc seemed to be one standard
size so far as width was concerned, and
| the man who unfortunately stopped grow
| ing ut five feet was the same size other
ways as his six-foot companion. Tho
women appeared stout and healthy and
| well able to take care Of themselves and
the children and numerous bundles. They
| wore small, brightcolored shawls on their
| heads and a long scarf around their shout
ders and waists. The children brought up
the rear of the procession, keeping hold of
| hands and very close together, but they
could not stare around with much greater
curiosity than did their elders. They were
dressed exactly like their fathers and
mothers, und the fact that girl wore a
dress reaching almost to the ground, and a
boy great double breasted vest with brass
buttons on IL, did not indicate that either
was over six or seven years of age.
Judging from the dress of the whole
party, the extremely elevated condition in
which they found the mercury must have
been something Of a surprise to them. To
put II mildly and avoid even the appearance
OF exaggeration it must be said that they
were dressed comfortably. This was
especially the case with the men, who must
certainly have expected to encounter the
icy fjords aud snow. covered mountains Of
the old home near the arctic circle and moi
the fervor Of a mid-continent July day.
One Of them, who kept little apart from
the rest, was especially fortified. BIS higi
boots reaching above the knee and laced
from the ankle showed that he was tn,
Finlander the brakeman had spoken Of
who had probably come to this country will
the avowed purpose OF using language ;,
his oxen that no American OK shoulS hear
His head was covered with a large fur cal
with immense Tapping side-pieces designed